The directive came during a Monday meeting at the State House in Juba, where Governor Agoth outlined his immediate plans to travel to Warrap and begin stabilising the state.
Appointed last week, Mr. Agoth committed to tirelessly promoting peace, stability, and reconciliation in Warrap, saying his administration will prioritise healing the wounds of prolonged unrest through reconciliation and development initiatives.
The governor urged Warrap’s residents to reject violence and embrace peace, while calling on humanitarian agencies and development partners to bolster peacebuilding efforts.
Assuming office amid ongoing intercommunal clashes and lawlessness, Governor Agoth faces the daunting task of curbing violence and fostering social harmony to secure a stable future for the state.
Warrap has been grappling with significant challenges due to ongoing intercommunal violence, cattle raids, and retaliatory attacks, which have led to loss of life, injuries, displacement, and destruction of property.
On June 4, 2025, Kiir declared a six-month state of emergency in Warrap State due to a deteriorating security situation marked by intercommunal conflicts and cattle raids.
This followed reports of heavy aerial strikes by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) targeting groups accused of cattle raiding in Gogrial East County, with civilians caught in the crossfire. The deployment of SSPDF, police, and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials to Warrap State and Mayom County in Unity State began on June 7, 2025, to enforce the emergency measures.
In May 2025, at least 15 people were killed and 16 injured in communal violence in Tonj South County, sparked by an attack on Manyangok Payam by members of the Apuk, Yar, and Muok communities. The clashes, rooted in ongoing tensions over cattle raids since December 2024, resulted in destroyed homes, looted property, and displaced families. Despite SSPDF deployment, the warring groups continued to evade security forces.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has intensified peacekeeping patrols in Tonj East County to deter a surge in intercommunal conflict, urging the South Sudan government to deploy security forces to prevent the situation from reaching catastrophic levels.
